Effect of Competency-Based Teaching on Practice Regarding Prevention of Hypothermia Among Mothers of Low Birth Weight And/Or Preterm Babies in a Selected Hospital, West Bengal

Abstract

Neonatal hypothermia presents a significant clinical concern and is closely associated with elevated rates of illness and death. To reduce neonatal mortality, neonatal hypothermia is increasingly gaining attention as a critical intervention. An experimental study was carried out to evaluate how competency-based instructional methods influence maternal practices for the prevention of hypothermia in preterm or low birth weight newborns in a specific hospital in West Bengal. The objective was to assess maternal practices in preventing hypothermia among infants born with low birth weight or prematurity and to determine the effectiveness of competency-focused education by measuring changes in practice scores. The study was grounded in the General Systems Theory as its conceptual framework. A quasi-experimental design involved 60 mothers selected through a non-probability convenience sampling method. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview format along with a structured observational checklist. Findings indicated that the mean pre-intervention score for the experimental group was 11.03±3.65, while the control group scored 12.47±3.87. After the intervention, the experimental group had a mean score of 22.13±2.14, compared to 12.63±3.21 in the control group. Further analysis showed that the experimental group significantly improved their scores after the intervention compared to the control group, as indicated by the t-values [t(29) =5.28, p<0.05; t(58) =13, p<0.05]. The study holds relevance for nursing practice, education, management, and future research initiatives. The study provides recommendations for future research focused on generalization and developmental studies.